Buckle



y w.w. DlLL ON 2,164,733

BUCKLE Filed Feb. 12, 19:58

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Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a buckle and the combination of the same withstrap ends that it is adapted to secure together.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of a buckle forsecuring strap ends together in such manner that their separation willbe resisted by predetermined force and that their separation will bepermitted upon the application of a force in excess of thatpredetermined force.

A further object of the invention resides in so constructing the bucklethat it may be adjusted to resist the separation of the strap endsregardless of the application of force to the strap ends.

In the drawing I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention, but itis to be understood that I am not to be limited to the specific detailstherein illustrated but only insofar as is necessitated by the claim.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of the buckle showing the parts in thepositions that they cupy when the strap ends are held positively 25against separation;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts of thebuckle when they are in the positions that they occupy when the strapends are held against separation under the influence of a predeterminedforce;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the buckle showing the interior of thesame;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the lockingtongue mechanism; and 35 Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional viewshowing the manner in which the positive detent is engaged with thesides of the body of the buckle.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, the buckle includes a housingI which has a longitudinal passage 2 therethrough, and which is open atone side as at 3,

The housing I is adapted to be secured to a strap end 4. The oppositestrap 5 is adapted to pass through the longitudinal passage 2 of thehousing so that the strap ends will lie in superimposed relation to eachother.

In order that these strap ends may be secured together either positivelyor so that they will be released from each other upon the application ofa predetermined force, I have provided the following mechanism: A tongue5 is mounted upon a transverse rod I that is pivotally mounted withinthe housing I and between the sides thereof. The tongue 6 is adapted toengage through any one of a series of openings 8 in one strap end and isprovided with a cam face 9. Normally the tongue 6 is urged in a.direction opposite to that in which the free strap end 5 moves fordisengagement from the opposite strap end l by a spring If! that isanchored to the rod i and to the housing I at II.

The tension of this spring I0 is such that it normally resists themovement of the tongue E in a direction which will permit the separationof the strap ends but when the effect of this predetermined tension isovercome by the application of a separating force to the strap ends, thetongue E will be moved against the tension of the spring until theopening 8 of the strap end 5, riding upon the cam surface 9, passes fromthe tongue 6, thus releasing the strap end 5.

If it is desired to lock the tongue 6 against movement in the directionin which it will release the strap ends, the detent plate I2, which ispivoted at I3 within the housing I may be swung into the positionillustrated in Figure 1 where it will engage the tongue 6 and positivelyprevent its releasing movement.

On the other hand, this detent plate I2 may be swung into the positionillustrated in Figure 2 where it will be out of the line of movement ofthe tongue 6 and will thus permit the tongue to move against the actionof the spring II) when sufficient force to overcome the tension of thatspring is applied to the strap ends 4 and 5.

To facilitate the operation of this detent plate I2, an opening I4 isprovided which may be engaged by the finger of the operator and toinsure the retention of the detent or looking plate I2 in its lockingposition as shown in Figure 1, I have provided the plate with nibs I5that are adapted to engage in recesses IS in the side walls of thehousing I, this engagement being permitted by the flexing of the sidewalls and the engagement and disengagement being facilitated by the camfaces of the nibs I5 and the recesses Iii.

Thus it will be seen that the strap ends may be secured together so thatthey will release automatically upon the application of a predeterminedforce or they may be locked together so that they will be held in thislocked position regardless of the force that is applied to the strapends and that tends to separate them.

It will be realized that this invention is applicable to many uses, asfor instance, it may be incorporated in a dog collar. This incorporationin a dog collar, will, of course, make it possible to secure the collarends together regardless of the force that is applied that tends toseparate them. On the other hand, the buckle may be adjusted so thatupon the application of a predetermined force the strap ends will bereleased and the collar released from the dog.

While I have illustrated and described a particular constructionembodying my invention I Wish it understood that many variations of thedetails of this construction are possible.

I claim:

In a buckle, a housing, a tongue pivotally mounted in the housing,resilient means for resisting the movement of the tongue in one direction, and means for positively locking the tongue against movement insuch direction, said latter means comprising a pivoted detent plateadapted to be swung into and out of its locking position,

WILLIAM WOODWARD' DILLON.

